- Crying (song)
Infobox Single
Name =Crying
Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist =Roy Orbison
Album =
B-side ="Candy Man "
Released =July 1961
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =Monument 447
Writer =Roy Orbison ,Joe Melson
Producer =
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single ="Running Scared"
(1961)
This single ="Crying"
(1961)
Next single ="Dream Baby "
(1962)
Misc ="Crying" is arock and roll ballad written byRoy Orbison andJoe Melson and sung by Orbison.History
The song was released as a
45rpm single byMonument Records in July 1961 and went to No. 2 on the "Billboard"pop music charts.The song contains "a vivid combination of hurtful romantic longing combined with near operatic vocals" (Roy Orbison Biography, no date). It is remarkable in that Roy Orbison begins singing the climactic, final note slightly
flat , sliding up by the end of the note to just under the correct pitch. That this was done for effect and this was confirmed in a live performance, "Live at Austin City Limits ", as well as on the 1987 re-recording from the album "", on which he sang that note perfectly on key.The song also appears on Orbison's 1962 album with the title "Crying" and his 1989 posthumous album "
A Black & White Night Live " from the 1988HBO television special.In 1987, Orbison rerecorded the song as a duet with
k.d. lang as part of thesoundtrack for themotion picture , "Hiding Out ". Their collaboration won theGrammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals . The duet version was a minor chart hit for the two, peaking at #42 on the Hot Country Singles chart.Rebekah Del Rio performed ana cappella Spanish language version of the song, entitled ""Llorando" in the 2001David Lynch film "Mulholland Dr." The song had also previously been used on the soundtrack for the 1997 cult film "Gummo ", directed byHarmony Korine , in which two of the central characters even discuss the song at length.In 2002, "Crying" was honored with a
Grammy Hall of Fame Award . In 2004, "Rolling Stone Magazine " ranked it #69 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."Carrie Underwood performed the song on the TV Talent show, "American Idol " (Season 4). She later went on to win the show, and is now a successful country music artist.Emily Vinette performed the song onCanadian Idol , but was voted off the next night.The winner of "Australian Idol " Damien Leith also performed the song, in 2006.In a 2006 poll for a Channel 5 program "Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs", "Crying" was voted 13th.
Other versions
The Lettermen recorded a version of "Crying" in 1964; it was included on their album "She Cried". A version byJay and the Americans reached #25 in the US in 1966.Don McLean also recorded a version of "Crying" in 1978. By 1980, it was an international number one hit in the UK and abroad, and a number five hit in the U.S.Other artists who have covered the song include
Lyn Paul ,Gene Pitney ,Waylon Jennings ,Del Shannon ,Bobby Vinton ,Liza Minnelli ,Billy Gilman ,Don McLean ,Haley Scarnato ,Deana Carter , andVonda Shepard .Popular Culture
* Crying was featured in an episode of
Only Fools and Horses . The episode Stage Fright featured Raquel and a guest character Tony Angelino singing this song at a function. Unfortunately Tony had arhotacism , causing him to pronounce his R's incorrectly, making "Crying" sound more like Cwying.
* Crying is featured near the start of the first of the Australian telemovie trilogySmall Claims staringRebecca Gibney andClaudia Karvan .
* Crying was featured in the movieGummo . After huffing glue, Tummler remarks that his cross-dressing brother used to sing Crying. Tummler then proceeds to weakly sing parts of the song. The original version of the song is used during the last scenes of the movie.
* "Llorando," a Spanish version of "Crying," is featured in the movie "Mulholland Drive" performed at an eerie midnight theater called Club Silencio.
* "Llorando" was also featured during the closing scenes ofPrison Break , season 3.
*Carrie Underwood performed this song in the Top 3 episode of the popular singing showAmerican Idol . Underwood later won the competition.
*Emily Vinette performed this song in the Top 10 episode ofCanadian Idol . Vinette was voted off the next night.
* In the final round of the popular talent showAmerica's Got Talent (season 2) , ventriloquistTerry Fator made his puppet turtle "Winston" perform this song while impersonatingRoy Orbison . Fator received the highest number of votes and won the competition and the one million dollar prize.
* On 2 February 2007 KD Lang speaking on BBC Radio'sSaturday Live (BBC Radio 4 show) program said that Roy had told her that this song was written after he had seen an ex girlfriend at a burger stand.
* In early 2008, "Crying" was featured in an anti-drunk-driving commercial. It is sung karaoke-style.External links
* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4030 Songfacts entry]
References
Roy Orbison Biography. (no date). Retrieved July 19, 2006, from http://www.hotshotdigital.com/OldRock/RoyOrbisonBio.html
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